December 18, 2009
ISSUE: Death Penalty Abolition
ACTION NEEDED:
The Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty is targeting legislators in key areas to ascertain their position on the death penalty and to encourage their co-sponsorship of HB 262, the abolition bill.
As a Coalition partner, the Illinois League has been asked to participate in this effort. Specifically we have been asked to:
- If requested, participate in in-district meetings to secure legislators’ commitment to cosponsor and vote yes on our abolition bill.
- Come down to Springfield one day as part of a small group reflecting the ICADP coalition for a mini-lobby day. (Because 2010 is the League’s 90th birthday, our LWVIL Lobby Day has priority—we are planning for March 11.) If League members are able, attend both, but do not choose the mini-lobby day at the expense of the League gathering.
- Help us identify other constituents in the district that can influence the legislator (like law enforcement, faith leaders, etc.)
The League offers great credibility to this issue due to our thorough study of issues before adopting positions. Many legislators have not thought deeply about the death penalty and have taken a safe political stance. But some legislators will be open to change.
Please let our Issue Specialist know if you are able to participate in this effort. For League materials go to the Death Penalty page of our website: http://www.lwvil.org/deathpenalty.asp
In any upcoming debates, it is appropriate for all local Leagues to question candidates’ support of the death penalty. A suggested question is:
Considering:
- the fact that 20 men later found to be innocent were sent to death row in Illinois;
- the extraordinary cost of capital trials and costs subsequent to conviction;
- the impossibility of correcting flaws which involve human fallibility such as eyewitness misidentification, police and prosecutorial misconduct, and perjury by witnesses seeking personal benefit; and the inescapable arbitrary factors which cannot be eradicated such as geography, race, and class,
. . .would you now support the abolition of the death penalty?
Please respond with your ideas, questions, and insights to Janet Kittlaus, LWVIL Death Penalty Abolition Issues Specialist:
issues@lwvil.org
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